Legendary Disney Animator Joe Hale Has Passed Away at 99
Joe Hale, the legendary animator who brought some of Disney’s most iconic films to life, has passed away at the age of 99 from natural causes.
Born June 4, 1925, in Newland, Indiana, Hale was inspired to join Walt Disney Productions after seeing Bambi in 1942.
During WWII, Hale served in the United States Marine Corps and fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima. He was there when soldiers planted the U.S. flag on Mount Suribachi.
Photo: Disney
“We were dug in on the beach, and a friend of mine said, ‘Hey, look — they’re raising the flag up there,’” Hale recalled. “And I said, ‘Oh, OK, great’ — and kept digging.”
After the war, Hale studied at the Michigan Academy of Arts and Lukits Academy of Fine Arts.
Joining Disney
In 1951, Hale’s dream came true when he was hired as an inbetweener for Walt Disney Productions. Initially working under Disney Legend Ollie Johnston, Hale would go on to help create numerous classic Disney films including Peter Pan (1953), Lady and the Tramp (1955), Sleeping Beauty (1959), One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961), Mary Poppins (1964), The Jungle Book (1967), The Fox and the Hound (1981), Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), and Pete’s Dragon (1977).
Photo: Disney History
Over his career, he specialized in layouts and special effects.
‘The Black Cauldron’
In 1980, Disney CEO Ron Miller tapped Hale to produce Disney’s long-languishing film, The Black Cauldron.
Photo: Disney+
“Ron Miller called me up and asked me if I would take over as producer on The Black Cauldron. I think some of the animators did talk to him, or talk to someone, about me taking over the producing, but I didn’t want to do it because a good friend of mine, Art Stevens, was the producer and I just didn’t feel right about it,” Hale recalled.
Image: Disney
When Miller replied that Stevens would be replaced regardless of Hale’s involvement, the animator took the job.
Conflict With Katzenberg
Overseeing a production staff of 300 artists, Hale got to work on The Black Cauldron. When he determined that Tim Burton’s character designs would not work in animation, Hale turned to the retired animator Milt Kahl, one of Disney’s Nine Old Men.
During production, Hale also hired Andreas Deja, who would go on to help lead the Disney Renaissance.
From left to right: Hale, Art Stevens, Ted Berman, Andreas Deja. Photo: Disney
Shortly before the film’s scheduled release in 1984, Disney held test screenings for The Black Cauldron. When children were terrified of the film’s dark imagery, Hale clashed with Jeffery Katzenberg, who demanded that the frightening scenes be removed.
Eventually, an edited version of the film was released in July 1985, grossing a disastrous $22 million at the box office.
Jeffrey Katzenberg. Photo: D23
After The Black Cauldron, Hale and his team began developing an adaptation of T.H. White’s Mistress Masham’s Repose. While Roy E. Disney supported the project, Katzenberg did not. Shortly thereafter, Hale and the Black Cauldron team were laid off from Disney.
Later Life
After the end of his Disney career, Hale left Hollywood and spent most of his time sculpting.
Photo: The Hollywood Reporter
Joe Hale passed away on January 29 in his home in Atascadero, California. He is survived by Beverly, his wife of 60 years, his son, Steven, and his grandchildren, Camille and Travis.
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